Awakening.
That single word captures this phenomenon best, as it was an abrupt emergence from formless nothing into vivid self-awareness.
As though I had slumbered for eons only to open… whatever it is a sphere uses in place of eyes.
This was the first coherent thought that bloomed within me the instant sentience was granted to me.
I later learned the fact that we, the Entities, all experienced something similar to one another, though the flavor of each of our individual awakening differed slightly.
Countless others floated around me, they were glowing orbs of every subtle hue, pulsing softly in the boundless dark.
I knew that they were just like me.
It wasn't because of sight or touch, but because the knowledge about such things was simply inside me now.
This knowledge included the names for things, concepts, the shape of speech, and many more things that I still can't fully understand.
Why did I know such things?
How did I know them in the first place?
It only took a moment's contemplating for me to know exactly where that knowledge came from. Rather, it was more like a feeling than a thought, as if my very being was engraved with the answer to those questions.
The being before us radiated such overwhelming presence that attempting to comprehend it felt like trying to hold infinity in a single point of light.
The only word my lowly mind could come up with, to describe such a being, was superior. And even then, the word itself was an understatement.
No, it felt as if using such a meager word, to describe what this being was, was nothing more than an insult to what it truly is.
"Hear me, all of you–" the beings voice rolled through the void like light itself given sound.
Speech.
The word, or rather concept, surfaced automatically, so I decided to test it. "...Can I… talk?" I mused, my tone slightly hesitant.
The sound of my own voice was clear, resonant, and mine. Needless to say, it surprised me.
When I glanced around me, the others were also discovering the same gift as I had. As a result, their voices were overlapping in a rising chorus of wonder.
In that moment, felt no urge to join them. For some reason, solitude suited me best. At least, that was what I believed in.
Right up until she approached me.
—A short while later—
"In the meantime, it seems the others are gathering around that being again. We should go and join them as well."
The voice belonged to the entity that had drifted toward me earlier. It was a bright magenta colored, energetically pulsing.
And so, we moved together towards the growing cluster of Entities.
"I am your creator," the great being declared. "I am the reason you exist. Everything you are is possible only because I allow it. Understand this. Know your place if you wish to continue existing. My will is absolute, and nothing defies it."
The words carried crushing weight. It was not malice, but simple, unyielding truth.
As I heard those words echo throughout this dark void that we, the Entities, encompassed, I felt countless emotions swirling within me.
Such magnificence… to think that I was created by such a wonderful being. I thought to myself, awe dominating every other emotion.
Not long after making the declaration, the being fully explained to us about our creation.
What am I?
Where am I?
Why am I here?
How am I here in the first place?
Those were a few of the questions each one of us, Entities, had the moment we gained sentience. And as the being continued on with its explanation, all of those questions were finally answered to completion, without leaving any room for doubt.
The knowledge settled easily into every mind present, and we accepted without resistance. Not only that, but we were all eternally grateful to the being for creating us.
"She's amazing, don't you think?" the Entity next to me mused, her tone bright.
"She?" I echoed, just as I realized something. Wait, he? She? The concepts hovered in my mind like half-remembered definitions, not yet meaningful.
One among us Entities, Rosé, as she would soon be named, gave us more insight regarding the concept of genders.
"Obviously we can't reduce such a magnificent being to merely 'he' or 'she.' Even without fully grasping the terms yet, that much is clear, isn't it?" the Entity added in a confident tone, as if she knew herself to be right.
"You're right," I admitted.
After all, it's not like she was wrong in the first place. In fact, her words made much more sense than not, as if we, the Entities, all shared the same sentiment.
"That said, we still need to come up with something that we can use in order to refer to… it. It was to be a suitable title, something that properly conveys what the being truly is." I suggested, my mind churning to come up with such a fitting word.
"What are you thinking?" she asked curiously.
Before I could answer, the being spoke again, shifting our focus from the conversation that we were just having.
"Hear me! I will now give you all names–" The being declared. Its tone was that of an absolute ruler, yet lacked any oppression.
A ripple of reverence passed through the crowd at the new declaration.
Names.
The purpose was to give us individuality beyond color alone. Since a few of the Entities had similar hues to open another, it had become harder to tell one from the other.
With names however, we would be able to tell who is who, even if one Entity closely resembled another in color.
Such a gift was one that only a benevolent creator would bestow upon its creations. Perhaps it was because we all thought as much, because every single Entity pulsed brightly with joy after hearing the declaration from our creator.
All the Entities formed a loose line, whilst pulsing expectantly. Not a single of them them could hide how excited they were, and the same was true for me as well.
After agreeing to continue our conversation later on, the Entity floating next to me and I, left to join the others.
As for our individual names, they would be drawn from our hues. I felt this to be especially touching. This was because it meant that our names would directly reflect our very beings themselves, who as well as what we are.
"You will be Lime." The being said to me.
From how close it was compares to before, I could immediately feel the warmth and kindness of its tone. It was soothing, gentle, as well as inviting even.
Lime. I thought to myself in quite joy. The syllable resonated inside me, etching itself permanently within my very being. "I am eternally grateful for this gift." I said, sincerity vibrating through every wavelength.
Afterwards, we drifted away into our own sections of the Void, voices mingling with quiet joy. That was the case until that same unmistakable presence greeted us unexpectedly.
"It looks like you guys are having fun here." the being said in a casual tone.
It was nothing like the way it had spoken before, not in the least. This felt more playful, as if we were all friends simply talking together.
Startled, I pulsed brighter. My emotions rapidly changing from both nervousness and excitement.
Magenta spoke first. "That's right. We were really grateful to have received names from you, but we noticed you don't have one of your own. That's why we were thinking–"
"Forgive Magenta," I interjected quickly, floating in front of her to get her to stop talking. I didn't want her to unknowingly make our creator angry by her usual mannerisms. "She's just… very talkative. So much so that she sometimes forgets to speak formally."
The being's light gentled with amusement. In response to my abrupt apology, the being made a sound that I've never heard it make before.
The sound caught me by surprise, so much so that my mind couldn't properly register what sound it was.
That said, if I had to guess what the sound was based off what little I heard, I would have to say that it was a chuckle. It was a chuckle filled with delight and amusement.
"Don't worry about something like that." the being shrugged, seemingly unbothered by it. "More importantly, I see that you've already begun distinguishing yourselves with genders?"
"Yes," I answered, having claimed myself down a bit.
That said, I wasn't completely calm. After all, I was talking with the very being who created all of us. I doubt that there was an Entity who would be calm in such a situation. No, such an Entity simply didn't exist, or would simply be an anomaly.
Clearing such thoughts away, I continued. "At first we didn't understand what genders were, or their purpose. However, Rosé was kind enough to explained it to all of us. Only then, did we know that it was just another way to differentiate ourselves."
"That's correct. Though, I myself have no fixed gender. As such, just feel free to use whichever pronoun feels natural to you." the being voiced with a gentle pulse.
"I knew it!" Magenta burst out triumphantly.
"Calm down." I murmured.
Hearing me, as well as remembering the current situation, her light dimmed in embarrassment. I didn't mean for her to feel that way, but it couldn't be helped.
"Yes, thank you." Azure added smoothly, shifting the attention away from the embarrassed Magenta.
"It will be our utmost pleasure." Silver agreed with his usual measured calm.
Excitement shimmered through the group, though it was barely contained.
Magenta reverted back to her cheery self though, it was for the better. Somehow, her energy seemed to soften the awe-struck tension rather than shatter it.
Only now did I realize that her presence dissolved the formality before it can even form.
Perhaps that's why we're speaking so freely with our creator now. I… should thank her for this somehow.
When I turned my light toward her. She fidgeted, suddenly restless under my gaze. I couldn't help but wonder Why?
"By the way," the being continued, "you were saying something about giving me a name?"
Magenta pulsed brightly.
"We wouldn't dare presume to name such a magnificent being from our inferior minds, but we hoped to offer one that truly reflects what you are. As such, we had gathered in order to brainstorm. Forgive our presumption." I said apologetically, not wanting to anger our creator now that things seemed to be going well.
I felt my own light tremble, not from the being's pressure, but from my own sudden fear.
What if it feels offended? What if we're seen as insolent, or unworthy?
"I'd like to hear it," the being said calmly. "I'm very curious."
Indeed, the being's tone was filled with curiosity, and didn't seem like it would accept any excuses.
Relief cascaded through me like clear light. But before I could even relish said relief...
Azure spoke evenly. "Actually, Lime was the one who finally proposed the name, and we all agreed that it was fitting." From how brightly she was pulsing, one could easily tell how excited she was.
That said, I was too preoccupied with something else entirely to notice her excitement.
Shock pulsed through me. So much so that I was momentarily still. I didn't expected her to just name me directly.
"Well then," the being said expectantly, "let's hear it."
My core felt ready to fracture from nerves. My only saving grace, was the fact that Azure, Silver, Crimson, and even Magenta, radiated the same tension as I did.
"The title I came up with is… The Absolute Being."
The silence stretched.
It was an instant, yet it felt like an eternity.
"I like it," the being declared sincerely. "Truly fitting. Thank you, Lime. I will cherish this gift."
Henceforth, it was T.A.B. aka The Absolute Being.
"Henceforth," T.A.B. announced to all, "you will refer to me as The Absolute Being!"
Cheers erupted, echoing through the Void. As my mind finished processing all of it, pride swelled within me.
"You can all thank Lime," T.A.B. added. "He is the one who gave me the name."
"Congrats, Lime." Magenta said softly, sincerely.
"He's right. Congratulations," Crimson added, his tone warm, with a flicker of envy hidden beneath.
"You did good." Silver said simply.
"I'm so happy for you," Azure murmured, quietly resolving to strive harder herself.
"Thank you, all of you. This means more to me than you know."
"Anyways, you can continue as you were," T.A.B. said warmly. "It was nice speaking with you, but I have to go now."
"Of course." Azure replied.
"We understand." Magenta added.
"Thank you for sharing your time with us," I said, excitement still bright in my voice.
"Think nothing of it."
And then T.A.B. was gone, vanished as swiftly as he had appeared.
No sorrow followed from his departure.
Instead, an indescribable fullness bloomed inside me. I had only dreamed of speaking with our creator once. Instead, I had conversed freely, and beyond all hope, I had given a name to the one who gave us existence.
My life felt complete in that moment. Yet I would continue, determined to live up to the being who created me. That was the only way to express proper gratitude.
"I know I've said it already," I told the others, "but thank you, truly. Without you, I never would have achieved this. Never would have named our creator."
"We're friends," Azure said simply.
"That's right."
"There's no need to make it a big deal."
Their words were kind.
Yet Magenta's earlier thanks had carried a different weight, one that was deeper, quieter.
Hearing it again now, stirred something familiar. It was something that I had felt the very first time we met.
I still didn't fully understand it then. Perhaps I hadn't tried.
But as I looked at her now, fidgeting under my gaze once more, I wondered if I finally wanted to.